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A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Listening Center Stools

Oh, am I glad tomorrow is Friday.  And that I have a THREE DAY weekend!  Yippee!!!   

Before I get on with the real reason for this post, I have to clarify something about my new Fun Friday chart.

The magnets themselves are not slipping off.  They’re sticking to the laminated chart perfectly fine.  

What’s falling off are the student numbers!  At the bottom!  Dadgumit!  They’re just not very magnetic with the other magnets . . . even though they’re the same kind and I tested it before I started this whole project!  (she said in the most annoying and whining voice ever)

I’m still just going for it tomorrow and I’m going to see what happens.  But my hubby came up with a good idea just in case it doesn’t work out.

He suggested I get the little white circle velcro dots and just stick them on top of the black circle magnets.  No re-making the chart necessary!!!  So I’ll see about that . . . but it still has to look cute.  If it doesn’t, I’ll have to remake the whole chart, obviously.

OBVIOUSLY.

Today I want to talk about my new stools!!  I just got them yesterday.  They are from School Outfitters!

(By the way, this is not a commercial.  I searched, paid for, and waited patiently for these stools to arrive.  I’m blogging about them because I love them and I want to.  The End.)  

New stool!
These are the perfect height for my back counter and take up MUCH LESS ROOM than the big chairs my kids need in order to actually reach the counter.    
Listening Center
with 4 new stools!
My kids thought the “holes” in the stools were the coolest things ever.  So I told them that I was actually the one 
who made those holes.  
The stools are extremely lightweight.  I mean it.  The box had all five (I tucked one away for now.  Just in case.) stacked together, fully assembled.  I was able to carry that box all the way from the office to my classroom BY MYSELF.  ALL THE WAY!!  Without taking a break or setting the box down!  FOR REAL!
Fully assembled, I repeat.  All I had to do was take the stools OUT OF THE BOX.  Some were upside down which was a bit tricky to navigate, but I managed.
Here are the stools in action at Centers today.  My kids go bananas for centers.  BANANAS.  (I think it’s because we only get centers on Tuesdays and Thursdays for about twelve minutes.  Talk about keeping the novelty alive.)
Awww.  So cute.
Mouths closed.  Listening.  
Peace.
That is, until they heard MY VOICE on the tape and freaked out.
No book on tape or cd this time around.
Oh no – not this week.   
It’s ME on the tape!  
They have to follow my directions and decorate the snowman according to my specifications.
I also dictate some sentences for students
 to write on the back.
I recorded this tape (and several others) about twelve years ago when I moved schools.  My old school had EVERYTHING including books on tape, pipe cleaners, tissue paper, counters in the shapes of bears and ducks and dinosaurs, construction paper, water bugs, crayons, mice, etc.
My current school really doesn’t have anything so before I bought every book and tape that Scholastic offered, I just recorded my own voice doing all sorts of things.
And, as you know, I have to be silly and stupid which means I take what is supposed to be an important standard and turn it into The Disney Channel complete with the obligatory cheese factor.  
In other words, when my kids are supposed to be QUIETLY LISTENING, they tend to guffaw out loud . . . which startles the rest of us.  
And, did you know that when your kids are wearing headphones, the talking and guffawing is EXTREMELY LOUD?
So when you’re in a serious game of checkers with a first grader and you’re about to make your next move, the following conversation can really rattle you.
“HAHAHAHA!  MY TEACHER’S SO FUNNY!  HEY, FRIEND SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME WITH HEADPHONES ON, AS WELL, DID YOU HEAR WHAT TEACHER SAID?”
“YES!  THAT WAS SO SO SO FUNNY!  HAHAHAHA!  LET ME ASK OUR FRIEND SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME WITH HEADPHONES, TOO, IF SHE HEARD.  NEXT FRIEND, DID YOU HEAR THAT?”
“WHAT?  WHAT DID YOU SAY?  CAN WE REWIND?!”
If you think you might be in the market for some stools, you can check them out {HERE}.  Again, this is not a commercial.  I just really like my new stools and I’m thinking of buying another set!  Maybe for my house . . . 

Comments

  1. Rachel Seymour says

    Good luck with the Fun Friday chart tomorrow! Those stools look like they fit perfectly at that table! 🙂

    Rachel
    A-B-Seymour

  2. goofytortuga says

    I love how you did the play by play of the kids at the center. I get that when we are in the computer lab. I have to remind them that we can hear them, and they are 4th and 5th graders.

    Glad you like the stools. They look pretty cool.

  4. Cynthia says

    I totally have those black stools too! (And a couple in turquoise!) They are great! AND they will handle kids rocking back and forth on them and kids balancing on 2 stool legs instead of 4. I mean, I've HEARD that…I don't really know that firsthand! 😉 *Good luck with the cute chart!

  5. Kim says

    Teeny Tiny Teacher on a Teeny Tiny Stool? That may be more than I can handle. Did you know that "guffawing" is one of my all-time favorite words?

    I'm guessing you have elicited guffaws on your blog countless times. That's one of the reasons we love you so much. Oh, and, of course, your passion for all things cute.

    I am sending a guffaw AND a cyber hug in your direction…

    Kim
    tFinding JOY in 6th Grade

  6. Amy says

    I hope your chart works. If it doesn't you could add washers to the back of your numbers. That way you have metal sticking to the ,agents instead of magnet to magnet. I have used this on my job chart when I didn't want to use up space on my magnetic white board.
    Good luck!
    Amy

  7. Stephanie says

    You on the tape – what a great idea!! Your chart is totally cute! I'm sure you will make those suckers stick to it 🙂

    ❤ -Stephanie
    Falling Into First

  9. Nicole Heinlein says

    I actually REALLY need stools, so I will be checking these out! And I know what you mean about the kids screaming at each other with headphones on. It's hilarious!
    Nicole
    Teaching With Style

  10. Unknown says

    I have the same stools-we took a trip to IKEA for those and for book boxes ( and well a few other things :)) -enjoy!!

  12. CarolP says

    Very cool- I think I'll get some for my back counter where computers are!

  15. Andrea Moon says

    Love that you gotthe hubby involved in the magnet project! You have trained him well to be a teacher husband. 🙂 Cute stools too!

  16. Tammy (ZivaDiva2010) says

    Love your listening center! I need to find a bigger space for mine so more than 2 kids can get on at a time.

  17. ~christina says

    OMGoodnees! Love the stools! My kids just did Make a Snowman with guest teacher Mrs Oldham….they loved you! 🙂

  18. Kimberley says

    I've been missing your posts. Must add you to my feed. You are smart, funny, and just all around excellent.

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

  19. Kristen says

    You cracked me up with your rendition of the headphone speak. Ha! Thanks for all of the info on the seating….I am on the hunt for something new. Happy weekend friend! 🙂

  20. Jennifer says

    What a great idea of using stools. I have my kidney shaped table and the chairs do not fit at all. These stools would be perfect though.

    Jennifer
    Darling Little Learners

  21. Nicole says

    1) Those stools look fab but 2)I am jealous of that bar-table!! I would die for one like that!!
    Nicole
    Rowdy in Room 300

  22. Natalie says

    Love your listening center! Ours is 12 kinds of messy, just a jumble of headphones. That's on my list of to-dos…

    Natalie
    Teachery Tidbits

  23. Trish says

    My listening centre is the worst area of my classroom!! I have been trying to figure it out for a while now! It is always a thorn in my side! I do have those stools though! I have pink and blue ones and they are at my computers. Love them!

  24. Veronica Porche says

    Wondering where you found those finger pens? Or are they pens? Anywho,,,where'd you find them?

    • kristinoldham@yahoo.com says

      They are pens . . . but we just use them as pointers for our books at the listening center. My teaching partner actually found them in the clearance bin at our local teacher supply store. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. 🙂

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